Hearing voices groups in the SUS: coping strategy, belonging and protagonism

Abstract

This article contextualizes the Hearing Voices Groups in their formation, analyzing their trajectory, impact and possibilities for integration into psychosocial care. The experience of hearing voices has always been present in history, interpreted in various ways over time. However, with the advancement of traditional psychiatry, it came to be predominantly viewed as a psychiatric symptom, leading to stigmatizing approaches. As a counterpoint, the Hearing Voices Movement (HVM) emerged, proposing active listening and peer support as strategies for coping and empowerment. In Brazil, the first Hearing Voices Group to be integrated into the Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) were established in 2015. Since then, studies have shown that these groups foster acceptance
and a re-signification of the experience of hearing voices, representing an essential tool in providing care with freedom and offering effective alternatives for psychosocial support and recovery. Nonetheless, challenges such as lack of funding, biomedical resistance, and inequality in implementation hinder their expansion within the Unified Health System (SUS). Therefore, it is concluded that the Hearing Voices Groups represent a care strategy that upholds human dignity and autonomy, requiring greater recognition and investment in health policies for their effectiveness.